The US Senate has voted to confirm Dr. Robert Califf as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after he had come under fire for his handling of the opioid crisis and views on birth control, reports Reuters.

Califf had previously been commissioner of the FDA from February 2016 until January 2017 and is now set to take the helm for a second time. He will take over from Janet Woodcock who has been serving as acting commissioner and will stay on a principal deputy, reports Reuters.
President Joe Biden had nominated Califf was however faced by opposition from five of his fellow Democrats who think Califf is not the right match for the position. According to Reuters, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said Califf’s work with pharmaceutical companies made it impossible for him to regulate the industry impartially whereas West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin criticised his handling of the opioid crisis. "Dr. Califf was there five years ago. He's coming back. Nothing's changed; 400,000 people have died (from opioids) since he was there," he said.
The vote ended with 50 votes in favour and 46 votes against Califf. His appointment comes at a busy and important time as the FDA is reviewing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.